Bespoke trade deal for City is still possible, Gavin Williamson claims

Gavin Williamson, right, dismissed suggestions by the EU’s lead negotiator that a bespoke trade deal for the City would be impossiblePA

A leading cabinet member has said that Britain can strike a good deal for the City despite claims from Michel Barnier, the lead EU negotiator, that the EU was unwilling to help.

In response to Mr Barnier’s suggestion that there could not be financial services included in a trade deal, Gavin Williamson, the defence secretary, said: “Michel Barnier says lots of things.”

“He is a negotiator... any deal we do with the European Union is going to be a bespoke deal. I am quite sure that actually we can deliver the services part of the package that is so vital for the City of London,” Mr Williamson said.

Pressed on whether it could be part of a trade deal, Mr Williamson said that he could…